News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

January 30, 2014

A loose, lively and talkative Colin Kaepernick sat down with KNBR's Murph & Mac in New York City today to discuss topics ranging from his final, end-zone throw to Michael Crabtree, to Richard Sherman's post-game rant - "absurd," Kaepernick said - to a possible contract extension this offseason.

That last subject is perhaps the most pertinent. Kaepernick, who is scheduled to count a relatively paltry $1.63 million against the salary cap in the upcoming season, can extend that contract this offseason so that his salary is on par with the other top quarterbacks in the league. Last year the franchise number for quarterbacks was more than $16 million. He was asked whether he would tell his agents that the contract should be drawn up so that the 49ers will be able to sign other top players.

"I think it's a balance. You want to be paid fairly for what you feel like you're doing in comparison to your peers," Kaepernick said. "But at the same time, you have to realize, if we want to get Anquan Boldin back, if we want Donte Whitner to come back, we're going to have to make moves to get them back. And there has to be room for everyone. And that's something I'm going to let my agent and the organization try to figure out. But hopefully, it's a position where we can assemble the best team we need."

Boldin and Whitner are just two of 10 players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in March. That list also includes kicker Phil Dawson and cornerback Tarell Brown. In addition, a number of young players, such as Crabtree, Aldon Smith and Mike Iupati are, like Kaepernick, eligible for contract extensions this offseason.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.